Rhodesia riots ‘intimidation’

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32886, 8 April 1972, Page 17

Rhodesia riots ‘intimidation’

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright) SALISBURY, April 7. The Rhodesian Government, in a document to the British Peace Commission which became available today, has blamed the African National Council for the violence which swept the country after the commission arrived in January.

The 26-page document said that riots were "planned,” and had conditioned Africans to submit to Nationalist instructions. It alleged that the African reaction was to support the terms of the settlement, intended to end the BritishRhodesian dispute caused by the Smith regime unilaterally declaring independence in 1965. . The A.N.C. opposed the settlement. “In tribal areas it was assessed that there was 8 per cent support; in urban areas and among African members of Parliament there was also good support for the proposals,” said the report. It said that the spate of lawlessness which followed the activities of “agitators” had changed this. The riots had been deliberately planned not only to cause incidents in centres visited by the Pearce Com-

mission, but also to create an atmosphere in which it would be more easy to carry out intimidation. “From the statements made by those involved, it is evident that many were intimidated into taking an active part in the rioting,’ said the report.